Nebraska 2026-27 Hunting Season Dates
Quick answer
Nebraska's listed 2026-27 firearm deer season runs Nov 14-22, 2026.
Archery White-tailed Deer opens Sep 1, 2026 and closes Dec 31, 2026.
Falconry Duck and Coot opens Sep 26, 2026 and closes Mar 10, 2027.
The tables below keep the rest of the listed seasons together by species, with source links back to Nebraska Game & Parks.
- firearm deer
- Nov 14-22, 2026
- archery deer
- Sep 1-Dec 31, 2026
- waterfowl
- Sep 26, 2026-Mar 10, 2027
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Key seasons by species
We summarize official agency information and link to the source for verification. Regulations can change, and zone details matter. Always confirm final dates, bag limits, permits, and legal requirements with Nebraska Game & Parks before hunting.
Proposed 2026-27
federal openings
in Nebraska
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing hunting and fishing access changes at 1 station in Nebraska. Public comment closes June 26, 2026.
Deer
White-tailed Deer
Archery
Sep 1-Dec 31, 2026
White-tailed Deer
Limited Landowner
Sep 1, 2026-Jan 15, 2027
Limited Landowner
White-tailed Deer
Antlerless Only Season Choice
Sep 1, 2026-Jan 15, 2027
Antlerless Only Season Choice
White-tailed Deer
Regular Firearm
Oct 1-15, 2026
October River Antlerless Firearm
White-tailed Deer
October River Antlerless Firearm
Oct 1-15, 2026
White-tailed Deer
Special Landowner Firearm
Nov 7-9, 2026
White-tailed Deer
Regular Firearm
Nov 14-22, 2026
November firearm
White-tailed Deer
November Firearm
Nov 14-22, 2026
White-tailed Deer
Muzzleloader
Dec 1-31, 2026
White-tailed Deer
Regular Firearm
Jan 1-15, 2027
Late Antlerless Only Firearm
White-tailed Deer
Late Antlerless Only Firearm
Jan 1-15, 2027
White-tailed Deer
River Antlerless Late Firearm
Jan 1-15, 2027
Turkey
Wild Turkey
Spring Archery
Mar 25-May 31, 2026
Hunters may purchase up to two spring permits. No more than one turkey per calendar day during spring season.
Wild Turkey
Archery
Mar 25-May 31, 2026
Spring archery; hunters may purchase up to two spring permits; no more than one turkey per calendar day during spring season
Wild Turkey
Youth Shotgun
Apr 11-May 31, 2026
Spring youth shotgun
Wild Turkey
Spring Youth Shotgun
Apr 11-May 31, 2026
Hunters may purchase up to two spring permits. No more than one turkey per calendar day during spring season.
Wild Turkey
Spring Shotgun
Apr 18-May 31, 2026
Hunters may purchase up to two spring permits. No more than one turkey per calendar day during spring season.
Wild Turkey
Shotgun
Apr 18-May 31, 2026
Spring shotgun
Wild Turkey
Fall Archery and Shotgun
Oct 1-Nov 30, 2026
Hunters may purchase up to one fall permit. All turkey harvests must be reported via Telecheck.
Wild Turkey
Youth Archery and Shotgun
Oct 1-Nov 30, 2026
Fall youth archery and shotgun; hunters may purchase up to one fall permit; all harvests must be Telechecked
Wild Turkey
Archery and Shotgun
Oct 1-Nov 30, 2026
Fall archery and shotgun; hunters may purchase up to one fall permit; all harvests must be Telechecked
Wild Turkey
Fall Youth Archery and Shotgun
Oct 1-Nov 30, 2026
Hunters may purchase up to one fall permit. All turkey harvests must be reported via Telecheck.
Elk
Elk
Early Antlerless
Aug 1-Oct 31, 2026
Early Antlerless
Elk
Archery
Sep 1-Oct 31, 2026
Archery bull
Elk
Archery Bull
Sep 1-Oct 31, 2026
Elk
Firearm
Sep 21-Oct 31, 2026
Firearm bull
Elk
Firearm Bull
Sep 21-Oct 31, 2026
Elk
Late Antlerless
Nov 1, 2026-Jan 31, 2027
Late Antlerless
Waterfowl
46 listed rowsCanada Goose
Firearm
Oct 3, 2026-Jan 15, 2027
Dark goose
Zone: North Central Unit
Canada Goose
Firearm
Oct 28, 2026-Feb 9, 2027
Dark goose
Zone: Niobrara Unit
Canada Goose
Firearm
Oct 28, 2026-Feb 9, 2027
Dark goose
Zone: Platte River Unit
Dark Goose (Canada Goose)
General
Oct 3, 2026-Jan 15, 2027
Zone: North Central Unit
Dark Goose (Canada Goose)
General
Oct 28, 2026-Feb 9, 2027
Zone: Platte River Unit
Dark Goose (Canada Goose)
General
Oct 28, 2026-Feb 9, 2027
Zone: Niobrara Unit
Duck
Falconry
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Falconry concurrent with all duck season dates in High Plains Zone
Zone: Zone 2 High Plains
Duck
Falconry
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Falconry concurrent with all duck season dates in High Plains Zone
Zone: Zone 3 High Plains
Duck
Youth
Sep 26-27, 2026
Youth duck season
Zone: Zone 2
Duck
Veteran and Active-Duty Military
Sep 26-27, 2026
Veteran & active-duty military duck season
Zone: Zone 2
Duck
Firearm
Oct 3, 2026-Jan 27, 2027
Two segments: Oct. 3-Dec. 15, 2026 and Jan. 6-27, 2027
Zone: Zone 2 High Plains
Duck
Youth
Oct 17-18, 2026
Youth duck season
Zone: Zone 3
Show 34 more waterfowl rows
Duck
Youth
Oct 17-18, 2026
Youth duck season
Zone: Zone 1
Duck
Veteran and Active-Duty Military
Oct 17-18, 2026
Veteran & active-duty military duck season
Zone: Zone 3
Duck
Veteran and Active-Duty Military
Oct 17-18, 2026
Veteran & active-duty military duck season
Zone: Zone 1
Duck
Firearm
Oct 24, 2026-Jan 27, 2027
Two segments: Oct. 24, 2026-Jan. 5, 2027 and Jan. 6-27, 2027
Zone: Zone 3 High Plains
Duck
Firearm
Oct 24, 2026-Jan 17, 2027
Two segments: Oct. 24-Dec. 6, 2026 and Dec. 19, 2026-Jan. 17, 2027
Zone: Zone 1
Duck
Falconry
Feb 25-Mar 10, 2027
Falconry concurrent with teal, youth, and regular duck season dates plus Feb. 25-March 10, 2027
Zone: Zone 2 Low Plains
Duck
Falconry
Feb 25-Mar 10, 2027
Falconry concurrent with teal, youth, and regular duck season dates plus Feb. 25-March 10, 2027
Zone: Zone 1
Duck and Coot
Falconry
Sep 5, 2026-Jan 27, 2027
Concurrent with all duck season dates in High Plains Zone.
Zone: Zone 3 High Plains
Duck and Coot
Falconry
Sep 5, 2026-Jan 27, 2027
Concurrent with all duck season dates in High Plains Zone.
Zone: Zone 2 High Plains
Duck and Coot
Falconry
Sep 26, 2026-Mar 10, 2027
Concurrent with teal, youth and regular duck season dates, plus Feb. 25-March 10, 2027.
Zone: Zone 2 Low Plains
Duck and Coot
Youth
Sep 26-27, 2026
Zone: Zone 2
Duck and Coot
Veteran & Active-Duty Military
Sep 26-27, 2026
Zone: Zone 2
Duck and Coot
General
Oct 3, 2026-Jan 27, 2027
Two seasons: Oct. 3-Dec. 15, 2026 and Jan. 6-27, 2027.
Zone: Zone 2 (High Plains)
Duck and Coot
Falconry
Oct 17, 2026-Mar 10, 2027
Concurrent with teal, youth and regular duck season dates, plus Feb. 25-March 10, 2027.
Zone: Zone 1
Duck and Coot
Veteran & Active-Duty Military
Oct 17-18, 2026
Zone: Zone 3
Duck and Coot
Youth
Oct 17-18, 2026
Zone: Zone 1
Duck and Coot
Youth
Oct 17-18, 2026
Zone: Zone 3
Duck and Coot
Veteran & Active-Duty Military
Oct 17-18, 2026
Zone: Zone 1
Duck and Coot
General
Oct 24, 2026-Jan 27, 2027
Two seasons: Oct. 24, 2026-Jan. 5, 2027 and Jan. 6-27, 2027.
Zone: Zone 3 (High Plains)
Duck and Coot
General
Oct 24, 2026-Jan 17, 2027
Two seasons: Oct. 24-Dec. 6, 2026 and Dec. 19, 2026-Jan. 17, 2027.
Zone: Zone 1
Light Goose
Firearm
Oct 3, 2026-Feb 9, 2027
Two segments: Oct. 3-Dec. 30, 2026 and Jan. 25-Feb. 9, 2027
Zone: Statewide
Light Goose
Conservation Order
Feb 10-Apr 15, 2027
Light Goose Conservation Order; no bag or possession limits; East zone closes April 15, West and Rainwater Basin zones close April 5
Zone: East Zone
Light Goose
Conservation Order
Feb 10-Apr 5, 2027
Light Goose Conservation Order; no bag or possession limits
Zone: West Zone
Light Goose
Conservation Order
Feb 10-Apr 5, 2027
Light Goose Conservation Order; no bag or possession limits
Zone: Rainwater Basin Zone
Light Goose (Snow/Ross's Goose)
General
Oct 3, 2026-Feb 9, 2027
Two seasons: Oct. 3-Dec. 30, 2026 and Jan. 25-Feb. 9, 2027.
Zone: Statewide
Light Goose (Snow/Ross's Goose)
Conservation Order
Feb 10-Apr 5, 2027
For special regulations see the Waterfowl Guide.
Zone: West Zone
Light Goose (Snow/Ross's Goose)
Conservation Order
Feb 10-Apr 5, 2027
For special regulations see the Waterfowl Guide.
Zone: Rainwater Basin Zone
Light Goose (Snow/Ross's Goose)
Conservation Order
Feb 10-Apr 15, 2027
For special regulations see the Waterfowl Guide.
Zone: East Zone
Teal
Early Teal
Sep 5-13, 2026
Zone: High Plains
Teal
Firearm
Sep 5-13, 2026
Early teal
Zone: Low Plains
Teal
Firearm
Sep 5-13, 2026
Early teal
Zone: High Plains
Teal
Early Teal
Sep 5-13, 2026
Zone: Low Plains
White-fronted Goose
General
Oct 17, 2026-Feb 9, 2027
Two seasons: Oct. 17-Dec. 27, 2026 and Jan. 25-Feb. 9, 2027.
Zone: Statewide
White-fronted Goose
Firearm
Oct 17, 2026-Feb 9, 2027
Two segments: Oct. 17-Dec. 27, 2026 and Jan. 25-Feb. 9, 2027
Zone: Statewide
Dove
Eurasian Collared-Dove
General (not including mourning and white-winged)
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Year-round season for Eurasian collared-dove only, not including mourning and white-winged doves.
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Firearm
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Eurasian collared-dove only (not including mourning and white-winged); year-round
Mourning Dove
Firearm
Sep 1-Oct 30, 2026
Includes mourning, white-winged, and Eurasian collared-doves
Mourning Dove / White-winged Dove / Eurasian Collared-Dove
General
Sep 1-Oct 30, 2026
Includes mourning, white-winged, and Eurasian collared-doves.
Pheasant
Ring-necked Pheasant
Youth
Oct 24-25, 2026
Youth pheasant, quail and partridge
Ring-necked Pheasant
Firearm
Oct 31, 2026-Jan 31, 2027
Pheasant, quail and partridge season
Ring-necked Pheasant
General
Oct 31, 2026-Jan 31, 2027
Also includes quail and partridge.
Quail
Quail
Youth
Oct 24-25, 2026
Youth pheasant, quail and partridge
Quail
Firearm
Oct 31, 2026-Jan 31, 2027
Pheasant, quail and partridge season
Quail
General
Oct 31, 2026-Jan 31, 2027
Also includes pheasant and partridge.
Grouse
Prairie Grouse
General
Sep 1, 2026-Jan 31, 2027
Special permit required east of U.S. 81.
Prairie Grouse
Firearm
Sep 1, 2026-Jan 31, 2027
Special permit required east of U.S. 81
Rabbit
Cottontail Rabbit
Firearm
Sep 1, 2026-Feb 28, 2027
Cottontail Rabbit
General
Sep 1, 2026-Feb 28, 2027
Jackrabbit
Firearm
Sep 1, 2026-Feb 28, 2027
Allowed west of U.S. 81 only
Jackrabbit
General
Sep 1, 2026-Feb 28, 2027
Allowed west of U.S. 81 only.
Zone: West of U.S. 81 only
Squirrel
Squirrel
Firearm
Aug 1, 2026-Jan 31, 2027
Squirrel
General
Aug 1, 2026-Jan 31, 2027
Furbearer
20 listed rowsBadger
Hunt and Trap
Nov 1, 2026-Feb 28, 2027
Beaver
Trap
Nov 1, 2026-Mar 31, 2027
Trap only
Bobcat
Running No Harvest
Mar 1, 2026-Nov 30, 2027
Running; no harvest
Bobcat
Hunt and Trap
Dec 1, 2026-Feb 28, 2027
Gray Fox
Hunt and Trap
Nov 1, 2026-Feb 28, 2027
Long-tailed Weasel
Hunt and Trap
Nov 1, 2026-Feb 28, 2027
Mink
Hunt and Trap
Nov 1, 2026-Feb 28, 2027
Muskrat
Trap
Nov 1, 2026-Mar 31, 2027
Trap only
Raccoon
Running No Harvest
Mar 1-Aug 17, 2026
Running, no harvest
Raccoon
Hunt
Sep 1-Oct 31, 2026
Hunt only
Raccoon
Hunt Only
Sep 1-Oct 31, 2026
Hunt only Sept. 1-Oct. 31, 2026. Running no harvest March 1-Aug. 17, 2026.
Raccoon
Hunt and Trap
Nov 1, 2026-Feb 28, 2027
Show 8 more furbearer rows
Red Fox
Running No Harvest
Mar 1-Oct 31, 2026
Running, no harvest
Red Fox
Hunt and Trap
Nov 1, 2026-Feb 28, 2027
River Otter
Trap
Nov 1, 2026-Feb 28, 2027
Trap only; one river otter may be harvested per season per valid permit holder
Striped Skunk
Hunt and Trap
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Year-round
Virginia Opossum
Running No Harvest
Mar 1-Aug 17, 2026
Running, no harvest
Virginia Opossum
Hunt
Sep 1-Oct 31, 2026
Hunt only
Virginia Opossum
Hunt Only
Sep 1-Oct 31, 2026
Hunt only Sept. 1-Oct. 31, 2026. Running no harvest March 1-Aug. 17, 2026.
Virginia Opossum
Hunt and Trap
Nov 1, 2026-Feb 28, 2027
Migratory Birds
Crow
Firearm
Oct 10, 2026-Mar 11, 2027
Two separate segments: Oct. 10-Dec. 10, 2026 and Jan. 9-March 11, 2027
Rail
Firearm
Sep 1-Nov 9, 2026
Includes Virginia and sora rail
Rail (Virginia and Sora)
General
Sep 1-Nov 9, 2026
Includes Virginia and sora rail.
Snipe
Firearm
Sep 1-Dec 16, 2026
Snipe
General
Sep 1-Dec 16, 2026
Woodcock
General
Oct 3-Nov 16, 2026
Woodcock
Firearm
Oct 3-Nov 16, 2026
Pronghorn
Pronghorn Antelope
Archery
Aug 20-Dec 31, 2026
Pronghorn Antelope
Muzzleloader
Sep 19-Oct 4, 2026
Pronghorn Antelope
Firearm
Oct 10-25, 2026
Pronghorn Antelope
November Late Doe/Fawn Firearm
Nov 1, 2026-Jan 31, 2027
Pronghorn Antelope
Firearm
Nov 1, 2026-Jan 31, 2027
November late doe/fawn
Mountain Lion
Mountain Lion
Firearm/General
Jan 2-Feb 28, 2026
Season 1 in all three units began Jan. 2, 2026 and ended Feb. 28, 2026. Season closes immediately if harvest limit or female sublimit is reached. Auxiliary season in Pine Ridge Unit March 14-16, 2026.
Zone: All three units
Mountain Lion
Firearm
Jan 2-Feb 28, 2026
Season 1 in all three units began Jan. 2, 2026 and ended Feb. 28, 2026. Season closes immediately if season harvest limit or female sublimit is reached before Feb. 28, 2026.
Zone: All three units
Mountain Lion
Firearm
Mar 14-16, 2026
Auxiliary season in Pine Ridge Unit; ended March 16 when unit limit was reached
Zone: Pine Ridge Unit
Bighorn Sheep
Bighorn Sheep
Firearm
Dec 1-22, 2026
Regular lottery season
Bighorn Sheep
Regular Lottery
Dec 1-22, 2026
Coyote
Coyote
General
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
No permit required for residents. Nonresidents must have a hunt (small game) permit. Habitat Stamp not required.
Zone: Statewide
Coyote
Hunt
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Nongame species; year-round statewide; residents do not need a permit; nonresidents must have a hunt (small game) permit; Habitat Stamp not required
Zone: Statewide
Other
Crow
General
Oct 10, 2026-Mar 11, 2027
Two separate seasons: Oct. 10-Dec. 10, 2026 and Jan. 9-March 11, 2027.
Porcupine
Hunt
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Nongame species; year-round statewide; residents do not need a permit; nonresidents must have a hunt (small game) permit; Habitat Stamp not required
Zone: Statewide
Porcupine
General
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
No permit required for residents. Nonresidents must have a hunt (small game) permit. Habitat Stamp not required.
Zone: Statewide
Prairie Dog
Hunt
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Nongame species; year-round statewide; residents do not need a permit; nonresidents must have a hunt (small game) permit; Habitat Stamp not required
Zone: Statewide
Prairie Dog
General
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
No permit required for residents. Nonresidents must have a hunt (small game) permit. Habitat Stamp not required.
Zone: Statewide
Woodchuck
General
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
No permit required for residents. Nonresidents must have a hunt (small game) permit. Habitat Stamp not required.
Zone: Statewide
Woodchuck
Hunt
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Nongame species; year-round statewide; residents do not need a permit; nonresidents must have a hunt (small game) permit; Habitat Stamp not required
Zone: Statewide
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Nebraska Hunting Season FAQ
When does deer season start in Nebraska?
September 1, 2026 is the first listed deer opener for Nebraska; it is archery white-tailed deer Sep 1-Dec 31, 2026.
When is Nebraska's firearm deer season?
Nov 14-22, 2026 is the listed firearm deer window for Nebraska. Check zone and permit details with Nebraska Game & Parks before hunting.
When does spring turkey open in Nebraska?
A current spring turkey opener is not listed for Nebraska yet. Check Nebraska Game & Parks for the latest turkey dates.
Do I need a license to hunt in Nebraska?
Yes. Hunters generally need the appropriate Nebraska hunting license, and some seasons may require tags, permits, stamps, or zone-specific authorizations. Confirm final requirements with Nebraska Game & Parks.